Wow customers with carwash dryers and vacuums
By Angela Altass
Dryers and vacuums are important components of the carwash experience, providing the finishing touches to customer satisfaction.
“Customers want a clean, dry car every time, and they want it in an environment that is attractive and feels safe,” notes Kraig Snyder, national sales and marketing manager, J.E. Adams Industries Ltd.
Compatibility with various payment methods, including QR codes, are important for vacuum offerings, while, for dryers, it’s the amount of air, positioning of bags, and efficiency that are key features, says Snyder.
“For vacuums, great suction, the right payment methods, sturdy and reliable structures and working with a company with excellent customer service are essential,” says Snyder. “Using our dryers provides high air volume with positioning to optimize the drying process while minimizing energy consumption. Our silencer package helps to keep the noise level down without sacrificing performance.”
In February 2025, J.E. Adams acquired the assets of Proto-Vest, a carwash equipment manufacturer specializing in high-efficiency dryers, conveyor systems, tunnel equipment, brushes, and other cleaning components.
“We purchased Proto-Vest and are going through it piece by piece to make it the best version yet,” says Snyder. “We are improving performance while not increasing energy consumption and we are combining some offerings to reduce the number of systems required to produce dry cars. With vacuums, we continue to extend our offerings with regard to different cashless systems. We continue to offer our stanchions with either a central vac powered system or our tried-and-true vacuums mounted to a pole. These are available as vacuum only or vacuum with air. Both are excellent options. It comes down to what they want on site, what will be more economical for upfront installation, and lastly, which way will be more efficient to operate over the years.”
The self-serve vacuum is a place where the carwash customer interacts directly with the equipment and if they regularly encounter poor performance or broken equipment, they will leave the site with unmet needs and a negative experience, notes Adam Thompson, sales representative, Eurovac Inc.
“A strong performing vacuum conveys a message of quality to customers,” says Thompson. “Reliability and serviceability are important factors to consider. Are spare parts readily available? Can the unit be repaired on site? These are important questions to ask when making equipment decisions.”
The move away from traditional stand alone vacuums to central systems continues, says Thompson.
“More Canadian operators are adopting the free vac model that has been popular in the U.S. for years,” says Thompson. “One of our most recent improvements is the aluminum canopy. Traditionally, carwash canopies have been cloth. The painted perforated aluminum can be painted in the same eye-catching colours as the traditional cloth but offers increased strength and durability through harsh Canadian winters.”
Energy savings are important considerations when it comes to vacuums, states Thompson.
“This is not a new trend but is still one of the top concerns for operators,” he says. “Variable frequency drives (VFDs), an advanced electrical control system, draws only enough electricity to meet user demand. Dual, smaller producers, replacing one larger producer, offers the same performance at a lower consumption rate.”
For high volume sites, pre-separation before the vacuum pipe is essential, says Thompson.
“Pre-separators remove large debris and water from the air before it enters the pipe, preventing clogs that would cause the vacuums to shut down,” says Thompson. “Slide gates are another smart option. They allow you to shut off one vacuum for service without having to shut down the entire central system.”
With a wet, caustic environment, carwash facilities and equipment are high maintenance, notes Cheryl Ehmen, chief executive manager, Aerodry Systems.
“We continue to be proactive in the utilization of stainless steel and other materials coupled with thoughtful design to mitigate detrimental effects,” says Ehmen. “Dryers are relatively removed from direct chemical contact that causes extreme coating and deterioration.”
Dryers are the most visible component at the exit door of the carwash bay and can effectively be used as marketing, says Ehmen.
“For this reason, the dryers need to be clean and shiny for the customers to perceive their cars to also have those qualities,” notes Ehmen. “Additionally, many customers look to a carwash to soothe their senses as opposed to increasing their agitation with extreme sound.”
Aerodry Systems is field testing a prototype of a back blaster, designed to focus on drying the back of vehicles.
“For many years, operators have inquired about improving the dry on vehicle rear and bumper areas,” says Ehmen. “Additionally, mirrors have been a concern. Currently, we are field testing a prototype of a back blaster with impressive results. Aerodry is now conducting further testing on placement of the back blaster to refine the results. At Aerodry, we combine proven technology with experience to provide superior drying systems that ensure efficiency, reliability, and lasting customer satisfaction.”
Providing a quality carwash service from start to finish includes drying and vacuum experiences that have satisfied and happy customers driving away in clean, dry vehicles.
